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“It’s my only frame of reference, man!”

“End of June,” Chloe answered. “And don’t ask me the sex. I didn’t want to know. The pregnancy is healthy and my genetic tests were good. All signs point to good vibes.”

“You really don’t want to do this with someone else?” Riley asked. “Sorry. I just assume⁠—”

“I decided to do this solo. Ri, I can raise a baby myself. My mother raised Cal on her own as a teen. I have the net worth, wisdom, and stability to make it work. I’ll hire a nanny and everything will be fine.”

I didn’t stick my neck out to remind Chloe that she had no idea what she was talking about. Even the best nanny on Earth wouldn’t hold her hand at three AM. A nanny couldn’t take over when she couldn’t handle the crying anymore. They wouldn’t send her to the grocery when they sensed burnout. My heart ached. I’d been a single parent for so long I forgot what life was like with a partner, but I hadn’t done it all alone with an infant.

“We’ll be here for you,” I said. “Everyone will.”

“Thanks,” Chloe said, voice tight.

I sensed that the reality of her choice was hitting now. We continued to the barn where a black horse greeted us in the aisle.

“You didn’t say she was colorful,” I whispered to Riley.

“The color doesn’t matter, Cole.” Riley patted my arm. “But this one can move. At least, in theory.”

“Hello!” A woman in a blue tank top and matching breeches said. “Are you here about Fable?”

“Yes,” Riley said. “This is my client, Cole Hayward, and⁠—”

“Chloe Markham,” the woman finished that statement. “Indeed. And you’re her cowboy… friend?”

I wanted to crawl into a hole and die.

“Uh… yes,” Chloe said. “But generally, we just call him Cole. The horse is for his daughter.”

“Ah, interesting. I’m Margot. And this is Fable. Is your daughter not around?”

“She’s in Germany and this is a surprise,” I said.

“When does she return from Germany?”

“End of February,” I answered.

“Well, that could work if you were willing to lease her first. I want to do a trial. I don’t need to be rid of her, as I told Riley. The problem is I just don’t see her working out for my needs. She’s beautiful, but will never work over fences. Still, where she goes matters to me.”

“I can attest that Cole is himself a trainer and he is one of the most patient men in the game,” Chloe assured.

Riley added, “Indeed. And Piper is the type of kid who values horses more than people, so she’d be spoiled mercilessly. She has great hands, a steady leg, and can sit just about anything.”

“She’s had a self-made OTTB until now,” I explained. “But we sold her paint—I show paints—and it’s time for her to get a proper dressage prospect to bring up.”

Margot grinned. “Well, if she’s riding at Ravenswood and Riley is on the lookout, I bet she’s fabulous.”

“I think she’s pretty great even if I have no idea what she’s doing most of the time.”

“I do,” Chloe said with the biggest smile I’d seen all morning. “She’s a natural little rider and she deserves a horse to take her there.”

After more small talk, we tacked Fable and brought her into a fancy arena with a bunch of jumps. Margot let me lead her, perhaps to drive home the mare’s award-winning attitude and sensible regard for humans. She had no idea that greenies were now my bread and butter. Piper could sit lots of squirrely babies, but I appreciated a sound mind. I held Fable and Chloe went to toss Riley in the saddle.

“Nah. Switch places. Make Cole do the work,” Riley declared.

At least they understood Chloe should not be doing heavy lifting or throwing grown humans up atop giant black horses. We switched and stepped back as Riley squeezed the mare’s sides to propel her forward.

“Not a lot of go,” I noted.